CHARLESTON, W.Va. –Community members in Charleston were able to get a preview of the upcoming Terminal Development Pre-Security Project at West Virginia International Yeager Airport.
Airport officials held a community open house Tuesday afternoon and evening, where attendees were shown renderings, design concepts, and planned upgrades.
“This is about showing the community our upcoming plans for upcoming renovations for the airport, so this is phase one, this will be our pre-security renovations, so everything from you when you walk into the doors down to the TSA checkpoint to baggage claim,” Chief Marketing Officer Paige Withrow said,” “So you’re going to see new lighting, new flooring and just a real refresh of what we currently have at the airport.
In August, the Central West Virginia Regional Airport Authority Board approved and awarded a $5.5 million construction contract to Grae-Con Construction Inc.
The project, including lighting and flooring upgrades, ticket lobby upgrades specifically at the counters, along with new digital display signage
Community member and frequent airport user Stephanie Thomas said she is excited to see all the upgrades the airport has completed, as well as those planned for the future.
“I’m excited about the changes there making to the airport, I mean we use it a lot, we have family all over, so we’re in this airport a lot, and it’s just going to make it more comfortable for me to go see my family and easier for them to come see me,” Thomas said.
She also mentioned that the airport has helped ease delays by providing snacks for passengers and allowing the airport dogs, two Border Collies named Hercules and Ned, to greet guests while they wait or after they have deboarded their plane.
Withrow said the new upgrades wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for the support from federal grants.
“We wouldn’t have been able to do this without the federal funding we’ve received,” she said. “So, this was $8 million dollars through the ATP federal program, airports program, so that gave us the ability to do all of the updates that we’re showcasing.”
Prior to this project, the airport had already completed lobby restroom renovations, added a second baggage claim belt, and expanded its general aviation apron.
Thomas said they’re grateful for anything the airport does to make flying easier for passengers.
“There’s always a lot of lines with airports, and this is the best baggage claim area, it’s not confusing and it’s quick, and anything they can make the actual facility more comfortable is great because travel is stressful,” she said.
Once the interior upgrades are completed, they plan to move outside and begin additional improvements.
The project is currently expected to begin sometime this fall.